Parachute pack



J. F. SMITH PARACHUTE PACK Dec. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 2l, 1950 INVENTOR. yJAMES FLOYD SMITH AGENT J. F. SMITH PARACHUTE PACK Dec. 22, 1953 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed 0G12. 2l, 1950 INVENTOR. JAMES FLOYD SMITH AGENT Patented Dec. 22, 1953 IUNITE-D STAIES it) -rsNT oFFi-CE 141Clams'. l Mv invention relates toa vparachute pack and the objects of my inventionare:

First, to provide a parachute carrying pack container which encloses and maintains a parachute in orderly folded condition in'a thin, `ilat, neat package without any semi-rigid supports within the pack or any elastic fasteners.

Second, to provide a parachute pack having a container adapted to lhe retained in closed position by'loops of the suspension lines whereby the ,container may be deployed. .Subsequently the suspension lines are deployed which release the .container providing an orderly releasable locking means for the container oy employing the parachute suspension lines.

Third, to Yprovide a parachute (pack having means for progressively deploying the suspension lines first, followed by the skirt of the parachute. The parachute is deployed progressively to its vent whereby the snatch load on the parachute is greatly reduced, thus eliminating vhazard to the parachute and suspension lines during the completion of deployment in connection with a load.

Fourth, to provide a parachute container which incorporates folded flaps held by the para- ,chute suspension lines whereby the entire container is opened when the suspension lines are pulled out permitting the parachute canopy to be freely deployed without friction or entanglenient with the container.

Fifth, to provide parachute .pack which is maintained in a thin, firm package without the vuse of stiffening devices and in which the parachute canopy is fixed ,in orderly folded position A which cannot vbe deranged by very rough usage of the parachute pack.

Sixth, to provide `a parachute paci: .in which a container for the parachute is provided with eight loops extending vfrom one side to the other intermediate the folds of .the parachute canopy through which nights of the parachute `suspension lines are positioned for fasching the naps of the parachute container', which prevents displacement of .the packed completed portions of the yparachute of the container, and promotes progressive deployment of the parachute suspension vlines and canopy, respectively;

Seventh, .to provide a parachute pack of this class which is very comfortable when used as a backrest or a seat cushion; and

Eighth, `to provide a parachute pack of .this class which is very `simple and economical oil construction, efecient, durahlo, and which .win not readily deteriorate or get .out of order.

With lthese and other objects in View, -aswill ,appear hereinafter, my invention consists rof 1 certain novel features `of construction, combination/and arrangement of parts and portions, as ywill be hereinafter .described in detail and vparticularly set forth in the vappended claims, lreference being 4had to the yaccompanyingdrawings and to the characters of reference thereon, forming a part vof this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of my parachutepack; Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view thereof, showing the parachute pack cover Aincpen position, with ,the parachute in open position,and illustrating portions broken away and in section kto amplify the illustration; Fig. `3 is .an enlarged kfragmentary sectional view, taken yfrom. the line-i-- of Fig.-2; Fig. 4 is .a perspective view `of the parachute containerof my parachute pack, showing portions broken away to facilitate the illustration; .and Fig. 5 is an .enlarged `fragmentary sectional view, taken from the line o5-5 of Fig. 2.

Similar vcharacters of ,reference refer to similar 4parts ,and portions throughout the ,several views of the drawings.

The parachute pack cover I, harness straps 2 and 3, rip cord parachute container 5, -container naps B vand 1 ,flap loops 8 9 and I8, suspension 'line bight straps Il, yl2 and .|3, pilot bridle straps I4, l5, I6 and lll, pilot parachute I8, pilot parachute suspension lines le, main parachute 2li, and themain parachute .suspension 'lines 2l, constitute the principal parts and portions of my paracl'iute pack.

The parachute pack cover I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is provided with an enclosed back portion la and flap portions 1Ib, lc, Id and j! e, which extendin rectangular relationship to h,each other when the parachute pack cover 'i is in the open position, as shown inFig. 2.of the drawings. vThe flaps Ih and le fold over the normally upper and lower ends, respectively, of the container 5, .while the flaps Ic and icl fold over the'norl'nallylateral edges of the container ii, and are lsecured bythe rip cord fi. It will be noted that the ends of the aps lb and te carry `the conventional rip cord attachments which 4extend through grommets in the flaps Ic and Id. The flap id is provided with a folded portion, if, lwhich is adapted to cover the rip cord ends of the Yrip cord 4, which are conventional devices.

The parachute pack cover l is adapted to oontain the container 5 and the pilot parachute yI8 in substantially lthe same -manner as disclosed in my former Patent No. 2,316,895, issued April 20,

i943. This pilot parachute i8 is a spring-opening pilot parachute, which opens the flaps Ib, lc, ld and le when the rip cord d is pulled, exposing the container 5, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The harness riser straps 2 and 3 are conventional harness straps, provided with attachrnent loops 2c and 3a, with which the suspension lines 2i the main parachute 2i! are connected.

The parachute container e is provided with naps o and l, secured at opposite ends thereof, and it is also provided with side aps a and 5b, all of which are fixed to the back 5c of the container 5, which is a continuous piece of flexible fabric material. Secured to the flap portions 5a and 5b are the flap loops G and lll, respectively, which are arranged in spaced relation longitudi'e nally of the nap portions 5c and 5b, adjacent the edges iid and 5e thereof. The nap 'l is provided with openings la and 'ih substantially coinciding with and adjacent to the flap loops 9 and i9, respectively. The suspension line bight loops i2 and i3 project through said openings la and ib, and said iiap loops il and iii, respectively, all as shown best in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

These suspension line hight straps IE and i3 are substantially identical, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, the loop-shaped suspension line bight straps i2 are sev/ed by stitches ld to the rear enclosed side of the container 5. The suspension line bight straps i2 and le at vtheir loopportions serve as suspension line re- 'tainers cured to the 5, and are adapted to hold the suspension lines 2l adjacent the skirt oi the parachute 263, which is positioned adjacent said nap G.

As shown in Fig. 2 ci the drawings, the parachute suspension lines 2l pass under the nap 6 Aand through the loops il and to the skirt of the parachute Zii. The vent end isla of the parachute 2i? is positioned in the end of the container 5, adjacent to the straps i, l5, E@ and IZ', which 'are secured to the suspension lines i9 of the pilot parachute i8. The main parachute 2% is provided with a plurality of folded portions Zlib,

Vwhich are folded against themselves in zig-zag relationship within the container 5, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Intermediate these folded portions, the loops i2 and I3 extend and interconnect the rear portion 5c of the container 5 and the flap l in its connected relation- 'ship with the iiap portions Ed and 5e, and the loops 9 and it. It will be here noted that the openings la and 'lb in the flap l are reinforced by tape lo, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the vdrawings.

It will be noted that the suspension line bight straps i?, and also the suspension line bight straps i3 are progressively spaced farther apart from the pilot parachute end or the container 5, and the opposite end on which the ap is positioned. This progressively increased spacing is necessary in order to accommodate the increasing thickness of the parachute at its zig- Zag folded portions within the container 5 toward the skirt end ci the parachute, which is more bulky. It will be noted that the main parachute suspension lines 2l extend from the skirt 2th of the main parachute through the suspension line bight straps H, and then in a Zig-zag disposition through the suspension line bight straps I2 and I3 to a position near the end of the container 5, with which the straps iii, l5, i5 and il are connected. |The suspension lines then extend to the loops 2o and iid of the harness straps 2 and 3, which are connected to the load and/or the cover l.

The operation of my parachute pack is substantially as follows: The suspension line bight straps i2 and i3, intermediate the folded portions of the parachute 29, maintain the same in certain position within the container 5, providing a neat, thin, iirm pack, which may be used and thrown about without displacing the parachute 2G in its packed condition within the container 5. The container 5 is thus maintained in shapely condition without the necessity of employing stiffeners or elastic fasteners of any kind. When the pack, as shown in Fig. i, is app-lied to personnel or a load, and the rip cord i is pulled, the pilot parachute i8, of the spring-loaded type hereinbefore described., opens the flaps ib, ic, id and le into the position as shown in Fig. wherein the pilot parachute i8 is deployed, which suspends the container 5 by means of the straps lli, i5, it and il. Drag of the pilot parachute it causes the container o to be pulled away from the harness straps 2 and 3 which causes the suspension lines 2| connected therewith to he progressively removed from the suspension line bight straps i2 and I3 toward the ilap i3 on the container 5. When the suspension lines 2i are pulled from the last pair of suspension line straps i2 and I3, the loops 8 on the iiap 6 are released and the iiap 'i is released whereupon the suspension lines are progressively pulled from the suspension line bight straps ii at which time the suspension lines are completely deployed before the inain parachute 23 is released from the container 5. It will be noted that the main parachute 2@ is then progressively deployed, slrirt first and canopy last, so that the snatch load of the main parachute 2i? is reduced to a minimum. During deployment of the main parachute 20 from the container 5, the flaps ii and l are coinpletely free and the flap portions 5d and ab are open permitting the parachute to he drawn out of the container 5 without any frictional resistance or entanglement. It will he here noted that during the release of the suspension lines 2l from the suspension line bight straps i2 and I3 that the loops and lo, respectively, are concurrently released which releases the naps 5a and 5b from the flap Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in. the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1 .A folded parachute, a container having iiap portions folded about said parachute, the edges of said container having means for locking `the same in overlapped position, flexible loops extending in parallel rows and being secured on the inner side of said container, said loops engaging said means and fastening said means, whereby said parachute and said container are releasably maintained in folded relationship.

2. A folded parachute, a container having flap portions folded about said parachute, the edges of said container having means for locking the same in overlapped position, flexible loops engaging said means and fastening said means, said parachute having suspension lines extending through said loops outwardly of said means for securing said container in closed position.

3. A folded parachute having a plurality of contiguous folded portions, a container in which said parachute is disposed, flexible loops in parallel rows, extending from one side of said container between said folded portions and through openings in opposite portions thereof for holding said parachute therein.

4. A folded parachute having a plurality of contiguous folded portions, a container in which said parachute is disposed, flexible loops in parallel rows, extending from one side of said container between said portions and through openings in opposite portions thereof for holding said parachute therein, suspension lines of said parachute having folded bight portions extending through said loops for locking opposite sides of said container securely about said parachute therein.

5. A container, a parachute having a canopy arranged in a plurality of contiguous folded portions positioned within said container, flexible means attached to one side of said container and extending between said folded portions of the canopy of said parachute and having suspension line retainers spaced from said one side of said container, said container having aps at the opposite side thereof spaced from said one side and provided with apertures through which said means extends, said parachute having suspension lines extending through said suspension line retainers outwardly of said apertures whereby said suspension lines are releasably stowed and serve as locking means for said flap portions of said container.

6. A parachute container, flexible means connected to one side of said container provided with suspension line retainers spaced from said one side of said container, a parachute in said container having a canopy arranged in a plurality of contiguous folded portions between which said means extends, flaps on the container folded over said parachute and second means on said flap portions engaged by said suspension line retainers said parachute having suspension lines provided with portions extending through said suspension line retainers for locking said flap portions of said container in closed position about said parachute.

7. A parachute container with releasable flaps folded about a canopy container and attached spring opened pilot chute, flexible loops attached to one inner side of said canopy container and extending between folds of the canopy of said parachute, said canopy container having aps provided with apertures through which said loops extend, said parachute having suspension lines passing through said loops outwardly of said apertures whereby said suspension lines are releasably stowed and serve as locking means for ap portions of said canopy container.

8. A parachute having suspension lines, a canopy container having flexible loops attached to one inner side, said container having flaps with apertures, said loops extending between folds of said canopy and through said apertures, said suspension lines passing through said loops outwardly of said apertures whereby said suspension lines are releasably stowed and serve as locking means, said loops and locking means maintaining the container and enclosed canopy in a predetermined flat shape, a pilot chute attached to said canopy container, and a container with releasable flaps folded about the canopy container, and pilot chute.

9. A parachute container having flexible loops in multiple rows therein, a parachute canopy within said container having folded portions between which said loops extend, flaps on said container adapted to fold over said canopy and means on saidv ap portions engaged by said loops, said lines extending through said loops for the purpose of locking said flap portions together in a predetermined flattened position about said parachute.

10. A parachute container having therein a folded parachute, said container having flap portions folded over said parachute, flexible loops attached in multiple rows to one inner side of said container, said loops extending between folds of said parachute and releasably engaging said flap portions, whereby said container is releasably held in a predetermined flattened position about said parachute.

11. A parachute container having therein a folded parachute, multiple flexible means releasably connecting two opposite sides of said container, said means passing between folds of said parachute, whereby said container is releasably held about said parachute, forming a thin, flat package.

12. A container for a parachute or the like having a suspension line, said container having opposing flaps and a third ap on one side, loops secured to the free edges of said opposing aps, loops attached to the inner surface of the opposite side of the container and extending through the first mentioned loops and through the third flap, whereby said flaps are held closed when said suspension line is threaded through the second mentioned loops outwardly of said third flap.

13. A parachute having suspension lines and a container therefor, said container having opposing aps on one side of the container and an apertured flap, loops on the free edges of said opposing flaps, loops attached to the inner surface of the opposite side of said container and passing through the first mentioned loops and through said apertured flap, said lines having portions thereof releasably inserted through the second mentioned loops outwardly of said apertured flap.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said parachute is packed in a plurality of folds within said container, said second mentioned loops extending transversely of the container between the folds of the parachute, whereby the folds are retained in position.

JAlVIES FLOYD SMITH.

References Cited in the le 0i. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,631,767 Russell June 7, 1927 2,537,152 Moran Jan. 9, 1951 

